At least eight killed after blast in car

At least eight people were killed and others injured after a car exploded near the Red Fort in Delhi, authorities said.

Delhi Police spokesman Sanjay Tyagi confirmed the deaths to the BBC, while the deputy fire chief said 19 other people were injured, according to Agence France-Presse.

Tyagi said police are investigating the cause of the explosion and are “exploring all possibilities.”

Delhi Police Commissioner Satish Jolsha told reporters that the accident occurred around 18:52 local time (13:52 GMT), when a slow-moving vehicle stopped at a red signal before it exploded, damaging nearby vehicles.

The city of Mumbai, India’s financial capital, was placed on high alert, as was the state of Uttar Pradesh, which borders Delhi.

The explosion occurred near a metro station close to the Red Fort, one of Delhi’s prominent monuments.

The Mughal fort, which is visited by thousands of tourists every year, was built in the 17th century, and is the place where Indian prime ministers deliver their Independence Day speeches every year.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi sent his condolences to those who lost their loved ones in the explosion.

Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi said in a statement that the news was “deeply heartbreaking.”

Federal Home Minister Amit Shah said that the explosion occurred in a Hyundai i20 car and that teams from the Indian National Security Guard and the National Investigation Agency are investigating the matter along with forensic experts.

He added, “We are examining all possibilities and will conduct a comprehensive investigation, taking all possibilities into account. All options will be investigated immediately and we will present the results to the public.”

The minister visited the explosion site and a nearby hospital.

Security is being tightened at “sensitive religious sites, vulnerable areas and border areas” in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, according to senior police official Amitabh Yash following the explosion in neighboring Delhi.

Uttar Pradesh is home to famous sites like the Taj Mahal and is a densely populated state.

One eyewitness described the effects of the explosion as chaotic and confusing.

He was a few hundred meters away from the scene when he heard a strong explosion.

He told the BBC: “It felt like everything stopped for a few seconds before everyone started running in all directions.”

He did not approach the site, but he saw burning car parts and local residents trying to help the wounded.